How I got from Bali to Mentawai islands

After being for a month on Bali, having good food, beautiful nature, learning to surf and amazing people it was time to head to what I called the secret island back then. Well it’s called Wavepark Mentawai and it’s a small island with only 5 bungalows on the whole island, you can go surfing, snorkling, swimming straight from the islands own beach into the crystal clear water.

I had packed all my gear and headed to the domestic terminal of Ngurah Rai international airport, or Denpasar in english. Got there in time and got checked in and had some breakfast, a small pizza. When getting to the gate nothing was going on, everyone just waiting as the flight was delayed.

My gear ready to go.

Last view of the pool at Villa Sungai in Bali, Indonesia.

On my way to Denpasar airport in Bali, Indonesia.

Checking in at Denpasar airport in Bali, Indonesia.

Huge breakfast pizza…

Waiting at Denpasar airport for my flight.

Finally for about an hour of waiting I was walking into the airplane headed to Jakarta. The flight went great, well except it was late when I got to Jakarta I was basically running to catch the next flight to Padang, which is the capital of Sumatra and is located on the west-coast of Sumatra.

I got to the gate and again it was quiet but now I got worried as I only had minutes to spear before departure, was asking around and one of the workers said that there was a monitor error and I was at the wrong gate and was now running to the right gate and did not have any time to spear. I got to the gate and it was closed and first I thought I missed the flight, but no, at this point luckily my second flight was late too so I could sit down and relax.

Departing Denpasar airport in Bali, Indonesia.

Waiting for my flight to Padang in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Arriving at Padang, Indonesia.

Arriving in Padang, there was a driver meeting me, we got my gear to the car and headed towards the Teluk Kabang port at Bungus where I was going to board the Ambu Ambu ferry and take an overnight trip to Siberut, the main island of Mentawai.

I was hungry as the only thing I had eaten for the whole day was the early morning tiny pizza. Even with some language barrier with the driver we were able to communicate enough so that I understood we were running late and had about an hour to drive, and it was almost five in the afternoon and the ship was scheduled to depart at six. I had to forget about stopping and getting anything to eat or drink and all I had was a half liter water bottle which had hot water in it as it had been sitting in the car.

Racing the roads to get from Padang to the Teluk Kabang port at Bungus, Indonesia.

Street market at Teluk Kabang port at Bungus, Indonesia.

After racing on the highway and then the narrow road running along the coastline up and down coastal moutanins we finally made it to the Teluk Kabang port at Bungus and there it was still waiting, the Ambu Ambu, the ferry that was going to take me to Mentawai.

Getting onboard luckily the other people who were joining me to the island that had came in earlier had gotten some really delicious local food that they shared with me.

Before going to bed I got some nice scnerey photos and got to meet the captain and the crew. Got some group photos with captain and the crew and after that I called it a day and headed for bed.

After all my flights had been late the Ambu Ambu arrived at the main island of Mentawai very very early in the morning, well according to me, in the middle of the night. Got all my stuff and got of the ferry onto the pier and for the first time for the whole trip I really felt like I’m close to being off the grid, just a small village and a pier.

Finally I had arrived to the Mentawai Islands and while waiting for 2 small boats from Wavepark to come pick us up I fell asleep on the pier as it was so early and I was so tired.

Continue to scroll down to see the map, some more pics and a video from the last leg and the arrival to Mentawai Wavepark.

The last leg of the trip I did in a small boat and even saw some wild dolphins swiming and jumping free in the ocean, nature is so beautiful!

Below is a map and a video from the last leg and arriving at Wavepark Mentawai.